Show and Tell

He answered... and... Furry Folk Winter

Here is a teaser for my November stamp club project. The theme was winter/snow. Since I was late getting my cards done, I finished them all in time for our December meeting. And now I'm late getting them posted. So me. Anyway, the full card description will be down below.

Today is Wednesday, December 14. And I'm having trouble getting started on this post. Just not very motivated tonight. Sorry about that. Although, if history holds true, I'll perk up and keep writing, writing, and writing some more.

Today was the first of the 3 and 4 year old Christmas programs at the weekday school.

They were well prepared and did fabulously. I remember years where kids were vacating the platform right and left... so when kids stay and even sing, I consider it a successful year. And, sing they did this year. This was the first time that I had seen this program and I could understand nearly every word the kids sang. The music teacher sure did a great job preparing them. If you are interested, for the past several years we have done Karyn Henley musicals which can be found on her website here. They're great for young children and really get the Christmas message in their hearts.

 

Some scripture for today.

Jonah 2:2a

"'...I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me....'"

This was prayed by Jonah when he was in the belly of the great fish. And, you probably know the rest of the story. God did save him from the big fish... and Jonah wasn't exactly thankful. But, what I'm focusing on tonight is that God saved Jonah out of his trouble. That Jonah cried out to the Lord and He answered. And you may remember how I am attracted to stories about God saving people out of their difficulties. They inspire me and give me hope. So, once again, I'm left feeling hopeful for my situation. God is oh, so good to me!

 

The theme for our November stamp club meeting, as I mentioned above, was winter/snow. I had fun with this one.  

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For some reason I was very attracted to the Furry Folk stamp set when it first came out. And I've used it quite a bit. Especially considering that I don't usually go for cutesy animal sets. But I do love all the little animals in this collection — and those trees. Love those trees. 

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Snow Burst, Furry Folk, Very Versatile); cardstock is SU (Not Quite Navy) and Papertrey Ink (Stampers Select White); ink is SU (White) and Memento (Tuxedo Black); baker's twine is Divine Twine (oyster).

 

Well, I think that's it for tonight. Oh, except for this picture from chemo yesterday...

Another celebration for someone finishing chemo... this time with bubbles. Very fun, huh?

And that's it for tonight. This time, for real. :) Tomorrow is one more preschool program, Friday is the staff party, and then we're on break until January 2. Thank you so much for stopping by and spending some time here with me. I really enjoy our time together. Hugs to you!   

A Two-fer

So, today I'm doing something that I rarely do... I'm posting one card that was made for two challenges. There's only so much time in the day, so combining Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge {Act 69} with Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday: Vellum Sentiment Strip, just seemed to make sense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fun colors. But, go figure... it's close to 80 degrees outside today and I'm posting a winter card. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's just the way it is.

To make my vellum sentiment strip, I scalloped both long edges and then scored lines just inside the scallop. I was originally planning to put my adhesive under the scored lines (as Nichole did on her example card), but ended up cutting slits to thread ribbon through and tying it securely around the card. It's so tight that it doesn't need adhesive at all. I was pretty excited about that! (Would've been more excited if I hadn't accidentally slipped with my scoring tool on one end and later stamped my sentiment crooked, but... no do-overs around here....)

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (On Ice); cardstock is Stampin' Up (Cherry Cobbler, Vellum) and Papertrey Ink (Stampers Select White, Vintage Cream); ink is Stampin' Up (Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Early Espresso); ribbon is PTI (Scarlet Jewel satin); baker's twine is from The Twinery (Maraschino); also used PTI dies (Large Scallop border, On Ice skates), a Cuttlebug embossing folder (Snowflakes), a gray SU watercolor pencil and blender pen for the ice skate blades, and a Scor-Pal.

So what are you doing this weekend? The Maid of Honor and I are driving to Raleigh tomorrow to shop for Bridesmaid dresses, do some wedding-related paper crafting, eat at some of the Bride's favorite places, and attend a concert featuring the band that has been hired for the reception. It'll be a girls' weekend and lots of fun. I feel pretty honored that they would invite an "old lady" like me to hang out with them. Hope I don't slow them down any! :)

Thanks for stopping by for a little visit. I hope to be back early next week with something new and exciting. (I have no idea what that would be — just thought I'd let the anticipation build a little.... haha!) Have a great weekend!

Farewell Tour #1

Remember all those stamp sets that I had removed from their drawer and stacked all over the floor of my stamp room? Well, I got tired (finally) of stepping around and over them. So — I put them back in the drawer. And — tried to weed out a few in the process. The unofficial goal was to fit them all in the drawer with no stacking (I stand them on their sides so I can read the label) and when I was finished I was like — yippee! I did it! And then I turned around and saw about 10 sets that I had somehow left out. haha. They were all "keepers" — so now I'm back to stacks. {sigh}

Well — out of all those sets that had been on the floor, only nine ended up in my "get rid of" pile. That's pretty pathetic, isn't it? But I can't seem to send them away without a party — so each set is getting it's own "Farewell Tour". At least, that's the current plan. :)

Here's the first set to go. Say good bye to "Suitable for Framing". I believe this was a Stampin' Up hostess reward set from five or six years ago.

Edited to add:  It dawned on me that these cards would work for the Card Style Clean and Graphic Challenge in the Moxie Fab World -- so I'll be linking there now.

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That was the first one. And it was fun. So — I decided to make another using the same layout with a different stamp.

And then another.

And, yes, another. You know how it seems that we (as people) are always wishing for what we don't have? It's been so hot here. And humid. So — now I'm kinda wishing for this:

But, in about 6 months when we're freezing our tails off I'll be wishing for this:

Yeah — never satisfied. That's me. :)

But, the stamps did make a cute little set, didn't they?

  

Yep, I sure did have fun with these stamps. I guess the danger of this little farewell tour is that I'll be tempted to change my mind — and I am tempted — but these are still on the way out. Bye-bye, "Suitable for Framing"!

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Suitable for Framing, Sweet Little Sentiments, Happy Moments, Small Script); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Stampers Select White); ink is SU (Kiwi Kiss, Cool Caribbean, Positively Pink, Bashful Blue) and PTI (True Black); markers from SU (Real Red, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pink Passion, Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Basic Black); also used The Essential Glue Pad, Martha Stewart crystal glitter, Kaisercraft clear rhinestones, pink rhinestones from my stash, and a few shapes pre-punched from scraps using SU's Merry Details die and a Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

Yesterday, we also said farewell to something that's been a fixture in our driveway for many years.

 
When the mechanic said he was up to $1700 in needed repairs and that the little truck wasn't worth anywhere near that — well, what had to be done became obvious. So — good-bye old truck. We'll miss you with your dents, peeling paint, stained upholstery, and frequently-lit check engine light.

But — hello, big boy.

 
And, welcome to the neighborhood. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today — I'll see you again soon!   

Winter Be Gone

Anyone else tired of being cold? This card is for all of us who are ready for spring. It is also for this week's 2 Sketches 4 You: Kazan's Sketch 46. (I rotated it a quarter turn to the left.)

 

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It's actually supposed to be sunny and in the 50's this weekend — very exciting. This morning I think I heard the weather man say that it will be the first weekend that it hasn't rained or snowed in 2-1/2 months. So unusual for Charlotte, NC. I'm ready for some of that Carolina blue sky and some warmer air! 

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Daily Designs); cardstock is PTI (Kraft) and some pearl shimmer and printed paper from my stash; pre-printed winter card is from My Mind's Eye; ink is Stampin' Up (Sahara Sand) and PTI (Fresh Snow, Tea Dye Duo); ribbon is PTI (Fresh Snow twill); glittery stickers are from Making Memories; also used Stampin' Up's 1-3/4" and 3/4" circle punches.

Hopefully my little blogging break is over. I can't say that I'm completely caught up with everything. Really — is that even possible? But I'm feeling a little less overwhelmed. Besides, I missed all of you!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and coming back for a visit. I plan to be here tomorrow, too. Hope to see you then!

Trees for Every Season

 
I made this set of cards for the October Papertrey Ink Guest Star Stamper contest in the Best Use of a Previous Set category. They didn't win, but I still think they're pretty cute.

Back in August I had done a similar card for the Papertrey Blog Hop (here) and just reworked and expanded on what I had done there.

The starting point was the trees stamp from Everyday Button Bits. Instead of buttons for the treetops, I used patterned paper or punched cardstock circles that had been stamped with images from Guidelines II. I adhered buttons on top of some of the paper circles. Others I left "as is" and some I embossed to represent snow-covered branches.

SHOW:  Spring Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, Mega Mixed Messages; cardstock: Lemon Tart, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Spring Rain), Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet); ink (Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Fresh Snow) and Stampin' Up's Pink Passion; buttons: Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet; also used Divine Swirls Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, Fiskars Apron Edge Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, pink rhinestones from my stash.

SHOW:  Summer Card   

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, Scattered Showers; cardstock: Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Ripe Avocado), Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Rain); ink: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, New Leaf, Fresh Snow; buttons: Pure Poppy; also used Fiskars Apron Edge Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, green rhinestones from my stash. 

SHOW:  Autumn Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, 2009 Autumn Tags; cardstock: Summer Sunrise, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Spring Rain), Bitty Dot Basics (Ripe Avocado); ink (Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise, Fresh Snow) and Stampin' Up's Tangerine Tango and Real Red; buttons: Dark Chocolate, Melon Berry, Pure Poppy; also used Divine Swirls Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, EKSuccess Embossed Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, orange rhinestones purchased from PTI.

SHOW:  Winter Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, 2008 Holiday Tag Collection; cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Dark Chocolate, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Rain); ink (Dark Chocolate, Fresh Snow) and VersaMark; also used Swiss Dots Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, EKSuccess Embossed Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, Stamp 'n Stuff white detail embossing powder, prisma glitter adhered to circle with Xyron, clear rhinestones purchased from PTI.

And, you know I have to show you more pictures from our trip to the State Fair. How about some livestock? It just wouldn't be a state fair without small children trying to get big animals to cooperate in the show ring.

 

Watching that boy with his cow reminded me of this boy with his cow.

 

August 1942. That's my dad with his cow, Beauty. The two of them won a blue ribbon at the 4-H fair.  Dad was 11 years old. I didn't know my dad as a cow-handler. I don't think I ever saw him with any animal larger than a dog. Well, we did ride horses a couple times, but by the time I came along, he had completely transformed himself from farm boy to professional educator. We were town folk.

And, I don't know about you, but I live in this relatively sanitary suburban world where we don't see (or smell) things like this.

 

Yet, I love the smell of the hay mingling with the scent of the animals and, well, you know what else. It just seems so natural and wholesome and clean, in an odd sort of way. I'm probably making no sense. I think I'm just feeling a little sentimental tonight. Probably a sure sign that I need to get some sleep! 

So that's where I'll head off to now. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. (And, if you read this far you probably deserve a reward! Give yourself a star and have a great night!!) Hope to talk to you again soon! And — maybe show you more State Fair pictures. :)